how quickly did your fitness improve?

Just curious to all of you exercisers. When you first went from couch to walking/running/lifting weights/swimming - whatever you do, How quickly did you notice you got better? You could lift more, walk longer, start jogging instead of walking ect.

I'm slightly amazed at how quickly our bodies can improve and adapt. Day 1 i was huffing and puffing and had to take breaks doing 1 mile. Day 5 I can do it easily, no inhaler needed :)
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Replies

  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    it is amazing how quick it happens. But even when it's still a struggle, it also wild how much better you feel over all
  • PositiveBody
    PositiveBody Posts: 43 Member
    I remember about 1.5 years ago feeling like a fat cow, breathing hard, struggling to get through my work day. Asthma was getting the best of me. Today, over 52 pounds lighter and still improving, I can't believe how long I allowed myself to be so out of shape. I would say it took me about 5 months into my lifestyle change before I had that "ah ha" moment where I was feeling great! It is soooooo worth it. :) I worked on my body, mind and spirit together...the weight then comes off!
  • I am amazed how awesome the human body is. I'm sure I knew it before but to really experience has been so neat! To get started I bought a Zumba DVD and on the first day I couldn't even finish the warm up section. Now I can make it through the whole 45 minutes. Pretty neat!
  • xilka
    xilka Posts: 308 Member
    More or less:
    One month to start feeling stronger.
    Three months to start feeling kick-*kitten*.
  • lexbubbles
    lexbubbles Posts: 465 Member
    Jan 24th: unable to run my planned 2.37mi route in entirety. Needed to do the last mile in run/walk increments.
    Jan 25th: completed it
    Feb 7th: completed 5k (actually the run was 3.4mi) in 33:12. Average pace dropped from 11:13 to 10:34
    Feb 17th: 5k time dropped to 32:20.
    Feb 18th: 5k time down to 32:15. Longest run logged at 3.9 miles.
    Today: fastest mile of 2014 recorded at 10:16.

    Over the course of less than a month and 15 total runs (I alternate run weeks with circuit training weeks) I've increased my distance from 1.5mi non-stop to 3.9mi, and dropped my *average* pace from 11:13/mi to 10:24/mi.

    My 5k time fell by 57s in 11 days.

    I'm amazed at how quickly my speed and distance have improved. At this rate, my goal of being sub-30 for my 5k race in May is going to be a cakewalk!
  • brevislux
    brevislux Posts: 1,093 Member
    Very quickly.
    When I started going to the gym it was very difficult for me... After each training (lifting) my body was wrecked, all I could do is take a shower and go to bed because I was exhausted. My muscles were extremely sore in a way I'd never experienced before... I seriously had almost no muscle in my body. But it took about 2 weeks until I suddenly had lots of energy after a workout, and the soreness started to disappear. Every couple of weeks I'd up the weight I was lifting. These days I hardly ever get sore after a workout/dancing/physical work.
    That's maybe just the benefit of being young. But it happens sooner than you think.
  • drewmmm
    drewmmm Posts: 130 Member
    my thing is running. I was always sooo lazy, I hated everything that involved even standing up for too long. but when I eventually started, I found out it's impossible to stop. First day I took up running I gave myself a task: 1,1 km running/walking 30 secs/30secs. I completed it but I was out of breath for the next half hour and when blood started pumping it gave me a horrible headache! That was january the 6th. Today, a month and a half later, I run 3 km every day. My muscles got used to it, my heart as well, the only thing that still sometimes gives me trouble is dry air and coughing mid training. But even that's not so bad, I don't have to stop or anything.
    On the bright side, I am losing weight, I sleep better at night and I can focus better (I spend a good part of my day surrounded by books)
  • I jogged a little yesterday. I would love to one day be an actual runner. I think i will get there by summer :)
  • I started walking/jogging my 5k training route I mapped out Monday. I was so sore yesterday I almost talked myself out of going. I quickly mentally countered with.....if I can get up and eat, let the dogs out, use the bathroom, log into my computer and sit on my couch and watch the morning news......I CAN WALK MY 5K! It took a whole 15 minslonger than usual because I had to walk slower, but today I feel amazing!!!! I am hardly sore at all.
  • Shelley6591
    Shelley6591 Posts: 156 Member
    It happens really quickly I find, I pushed myself hard in the beginning and drug my butt through most especially through cold and flu season and 2 kids but now I'm addicted and mentally have to! Little gadgets help and so does a partner ;)
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    it is amazing how quick it happens. But even when it's still a struggle, it also wild how much better you feel over all

    This. I find that I'm more flexible and it really did happen within a few days. It's amazing how quickly your body adapts. Almost like it's sighing saying "AAAHHH, that's what I've been needing." :smile:
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    Mar-13 - struggled to walk up a flight of stairs without puffing & panting at the top.
    Jun-13 - Fell in love with running!
    Aug-13 - Ran my 1st 5k without walking in 50mins
    Jan-14 - Set 5k PB of 32:05
    Jan-14 - started training for a half marathon
    Feb-14 - Ran 9 miles for the first time
    Feb-14 - First 10k race coming up on Sunday

    Also shown similar progress in my weights programme over the same time frame. I see slight improvements from 1 week to the next but when I look one month to the next I see much greater improvements and its my biggest motivator to carry on with the lifestyle change I've chosen :)
  • PinkyFett
    PinkyFett Posts: 842 Member
    I walked a mile on the treadmill at 2 mph Tuesday, skipped yesterday because I was out all day, today, I just did half a mile at 3 MPH and it was a lot easier for me (and I have a brand new, sore, tattoo covering my whole left thigh). I'm hoping to get another 1/2 mile in later but this was all my poor leg could handle for now. Tomorrow I hope to do a whole mile at 3 MPH.
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Just curious to all of you exercisers. When you first went from couch to walking/running/lifting weights/swimming - whatever you do, How quickly did you notice you got better? You could lift more, walk longer, start jogging instead of walking ect.

    I'm slightly amazed at how quickly our bodies can improve and adapt. Day 1 i was huffing and puffing and had to take breaks doing 1 mile. Day 5 I can do it easily, no inhaler needed :)

    It happened pretty quickly. Each week, I got stronger and more capable. But the flip side is that if you stop working out, you lose it all even faster.
  • sarafischbach9
    sarafischbach9 Posts: 466 Member
    I did the Arc Trainer for an hour today at a moderate pace and resistance. It was not an easy task but I feel good now an hour later. I burned a lot of calories too. I would not have been able to do that for an hour back in December. I maybe would have been able to do it for 15 minutes at an easy pace.

    But pretty much I went from driving hours a day/sitting around on my computer in the free time to exercising 60-90 minutes 5-6 days a week. The only form of exercises I got this Fall of 2013 was walking around campus and the mall, and my fairly active job 4 days a week.

    I think it took me a couple of weeks to get used to exercising. But it doesn't take very long, even if you were a couch potato. Last summer I kept myself active by taking walks in the parks and riding my bike, which I plan to this summer as well. My weight didn't really start going up till Fall 2013, because I was doing all these long commutes and I wasn't very active. Only lightly active at most some days of the week. And because I was running around all the time I was eating out a lot, which mainly contributed to my weight gain.

    I've lost it all and more in just 2 months. I don't have much more to lose.

    BTW, I'm no longer doing that long commute anymore. I was doing that commute for 2 years. It was an hour there and an hour back a few days a week. I am glad I have an extra six hours that is NOT driving anymore.
  • eyecandyrayce
    eyecandyrayce Posts: 260 Member
    When I first started I couldn't walk for more than 30 minutes and I could do 2 days in a row. A few months later and I'm doing a minimum of an hour of working out and work out 5 days a week. It takes a little time.

    I still can't run but I'm not really too surprised by that. Even in high school in top shape I could only sprint for a short time.
  • caitconquersweight
    caitconquersweight Posts: 316 Member
    About two weeks. I don't do super hard work out till I drop type stuff though, I do low impact aerobics, dance videos, cardio boxing, stuff like that. There are still some things that make me struggle immensely. But now I can go longer, do more, feel pretty good after I'm done.

    Edit: I'm also able to run in place for about 5 minutes straight without dying. That's piddly and silly compared to how long real runners can go, but believe me, it's a HUGE improvement.
  • JNettie73
    JNettie73 Posts: 1,211 Member
    I started out doing a 12 week cardio/ strength training program that increases with each phase. I began noticing around day 5-6 that I was feeling so much better and able to do more than I could the first day. Each week I was amazed at how much more I could do. It really is a great feeling!
  • TheMrsCole
    TheMrsCole Posts: 114 Member
    I have done kickboxing for about 4 months now and have noticed that I don't get winded as much and also I don't burn near the amount of calories I used to when I started. I also could not run for more than 25 seconds without being winded and now I am able to run 4 minutes without stopping. So about 4 months of only working out 3 days a week.
  • wannakimmy
    wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
    Yep, within a week I was feeling much better physically and emotionally.
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    Yep, within a week I was feeling much better physically and emotionally.

    My co worker told me this morning that I've not been B!tchy during TOM since I started exercising regularly. :laugh:
  • I started walking/running to work and within two weeks I had cut down the time it took with 5 minutes.
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    I'm wondering how they know when its your TOM?!!!
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    I'm wondering how they know when its your TOM?!!!

    We're not shy in our office. :laugh: She also knows my moods and when it's that time due to my moods. I tend to get real quiet about a week before I start, too, so she knows. Women that work together tend to run the same cycles as well. We've worked together for almost 7 years.
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    Weekly. The key is never giving up. Pushing through it even when it gets hard and you think you are going to die, challenge yourself.
  • Hawkrcr285
    Hawkrcr285 Posts: 14 Member
    Sarah,

    not sure if this will help much but I like to give blood regularly as I can. The last time was in December 2013 my blood pressure was 136/84, pretty much in the prehypertension zone, after 8 weeks of effort I gave blood again yesterday and it was 110/72. it surprised me how much it change in just 8 weeks.
  • Jan 24th: unable to run my planned 2.37mi route in entirety. Needed to do the last mile in run/walk increments.
    Jan 25th: completed it
    Feb 7th: completed 5k (actually the run was 3.4mi) in 33:12. Average pace dropped from 11:13 to 10:34
    Feb 17th: 5k time dropped to 32:20.
    Feb 18th: 5k time down to 32:15. Longest run logged at 3.9 miles.
    Today: fastest mile of 2014 recorded at 10:16.

    Over the course of less than a month and 15 total runs (I alternate run weeks with circuit training weeks) I've increased my distance from 1.5mi non-stop to 3.9mi, and dropped my *average* pace from 11:13/mi to 10:24/mi.

    My 5k time fell by 57s in 11 days.

    I'm amazed at how quickly my speed and distance have improved. At this rate, my goal of being sub-30 for my 5k race in May is going to be a cakewalk!

    Wow! That is some crazy fast improvement! It took me months to see improvements like that. Go you!
  • mlclark86
    mlclark86 Posts: 33 Member
    I have been exercising on a daily basis for 16 day now. Two weeks ago my exercises consisted of some sit ups and push ups VERY modified and running for about 5 min. I was a mess the first few days, my whole body hurt!

    Today I decided to take an actual run for the first time since I was in the army almost 8 years ago. I decided i would be happy if I made it to the end of my driveway and back (about a quarter mile)...well the end of the driveway came and went and before I knew it I finished a mile running and another mile walking briskly back home! I was ecstatic and now I can't wait to see what I can do in two more weeks!
  • crazie4lulu
    crazie4lulu Posts: 762 Member
    your fitness level will improve on a daily basis. you may not see it at first but the little things you do in life will get easier and you will find that things you didnt think you could do before... you can do with much more ease! the key is to keep challenging your body everyday... switch things up. try different things. you may be surprised at what you actually do like. Believe it or not... i never worked out til i had kids. i hated the word... now im a personal trainer and i help people reach their goals... stick with it... you will see the results!
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    I"d say after your first month you start to notice drastic changes, and then from there every 2 weeks you notice a vein you couldn't see before, a muscle that suddenly has a little shadow and then eventually you see little muscles start to stick out more or you see that an X minute mile is suddenly effortless, etc...